Let me be happy after Election Day results

I’m writing this before election results, hence hopeful prognostication must be tempered with realism. I submitted both hopeful and pragmatic “guessimations” on All Saints Day for good luck, nonetheless, you are reading my predictions 12 hours after polls close — perhaps snickering at my political ineptitude or applauding my astute political acumen.

My happiest outcome is: President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have won a second term. I revel in increasing the Democrat majority in the Senate — I’m ecstatic at Democrats retaking the House of Representatives.

More probable, the Obama/Biden administration is preparing for the next four years, considering cabinet replacements, assessing maneuvers to pass lame-duck, vitally important legislation. Obama’s “American Jobs Act,” submitted to Congress more than a year ago, might actually succeed at last as outgoing Republican obstructionists, self-servingly planning for future elections, finally realize America’s future is also theirs.

Obama/Biden prepare to spar with a weakened House GOP majority, encouraged by the aspect of some fresh-faced Democrats representatives, plus additional, yet not 60-seat — super majority in the Senate. Because of these slight Democrat advances, I pray GOP congressional survivors will realize how tenuous their power is — Americans don’t like, won’t tolerate non-governance.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (Missouri) edged out Rep. Todd Akin (‘legitimate’ rape), who vacated his House seat to run for the Senate. Todd will reunite with Paul Ryan whose struggles with the truth contributed not only to his defeat on the presidential ticket, but his House seat loss to Democrat Rob Zerban.

There will be freshmen representatives and senators replacing retiring or defeated incumbents. A few tea party extremists in the House have been replaced by newer versions, no more open to compromise than the defeated hard-liners, so struggles to enact effective legislation will continue.

The truly intolerant Tea Partiers — Allen West (Fla.), Joe Walsh (Ill.), Steve King (Iowa), Michelle Bachman (Minn.) — are collecting moving boxes to clear out their offices, planning to go out with a bang rather than a whimper. They’ll continue to obstruct to the end — but at least they’ll be gone in 2013.

Notwithstanding those who feed on obstructionism and a poisonous atmosphere of hate and discord, I believe I’m speaking for the average U.S. resident when I say “this past four years isn’t my idea of government.”

I long for bygone days, although my memories don’t include politicians feeling compelled to boast their love for America, their devotion to their spouses, their church affiliation and belief in the ‘right’ God.

Decades ago politicians didn’t conclude speeches with “God bless America” for fear the opposition would pounce to label them “unpatriotic.” How did those gratuitous pronouncements become part of today’s political scene?

Neither Eisenhower or Stevenson, Nixon or Kennedy, Carter or Ford blackmailed the opponent with this patriotism “test.” Loving America was a given — Americans love this country. We have differing philosophies but not opposing goals to make and keep this land the best place on earth to live and prosper. Fulfilling the promises of the United States of America was first a shared goal, notwithstanding the differing ideological routes to that conclusion.

Dwight Eisenhower, 34th President, would be aghast at his party’s willingness to sabotage his country’s prosperity for political power — the GOP policy to block Americans from voting would appall him. Ike’s greatest fear was made reality by Bush/Cheney.

“...we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence... by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes.”

Today, though, we face the very real possibility America is experiencing a “deja vu” situation similar to 2000. Battleground state voter suppression and/or disputed results may delay Presidential victory announcement.

Nevertheless, this morning I pray I’m learning the outcome with a smile on my face and in my heart. We have another chance to get it right — please God, let me be happy.

Or..... I am struggling to stomach the reality of President Mitt Romney and Vice President Paul Ryan. Oh, dear.

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